The legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter will make his triumphant return to Blue Note Records after 43 years with the February 5, 2013 release of Without A Net, his searing new album with his long-running Quartet featuring pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci, and drummer Brian Blade. Shorter has revealed the album cover artwork for Without A Net, which features drawings by Shorter himself. Continue reading →

Manuel Valera, Cuban pianist, bandleader, composer and arranger, has been nominated for the Grammy Awards for his album New Cuban Express in the Best Latin Jazz category.

Manuel is also the piano faculty of Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, Chennai. It’s a proud moment for the artiste and the academy. Prasanna, president of the academy, says, “Manuel is one of the most amazing Cuban virtuosos today. I saw him perform at the Newport Jazz Festival in September 2012. We wish him well for the Grammy Award night. He will be traveling to Los Angeles for the ceremony and be back in the academy hopefully with the award.”

Manuel is in the forefront of contemporary modern jazz and represents the next generation of great performers and composers.

Today the Detroit Jazz Festival announced that the Chrysler brand will be the official presenting sponsor for the 2012 festival. The sponsorship is an extension of its successful “Imported from Detroit” campaign, celebrating the spirit and determination of Detroit and its residents. Continue reading →

Yalik’s Modern Art presents a documentary exhibit recounting former High Point resident John Coltrane’s uneasy relationship with jazz critics during the tumultuous Civil Rights period. The exhibit titled, John Coltrane vs. the Jazz Critics: 1961-1966, coincides with the 2012 John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival, Saturday, September 1st.

Through an examination of photographs, letters, record reviews, commentaries, musical examples, and artifacts, Coltrane and the Jazz Critics details the strategies Coltrane employed to weather a concerted campaign by Down Beat magazine to discredit his musical experiments in the years before Coltrane produced his most original and enduring recordings. Continue reading →

Lage’s Working Ensemble to Make Winter Jazzfest Debut
at New York’s Sullivan Hall, January 6

JULIAN LAGE

Following significant activity in 2011, which included the release of his critically acclaimed album Gladwell and national international tours with vibraphonist Gary Burton as well as his own ensemble (among other highlights), virtuoso guitarist Julian Lage has yet another ambitious year planned for 2012. He most recently unveiled a new group and will continue to perform with his working ensemble, the Julian Lage Group.

On New Year’s Eve 2011 – 2012, Julian Lage launched 2012 by kicking off Toast of the Nation, an all-night broadcast of live jazz from venues across the U.S. – presented by NPR Music, WGBH, and WBGO. Lage introduced a new group: the Julian Lage Trio (featuring bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland with a surprise guest, saxophonist Dan Blake). The performance took place at Lage’s alma mater, the Berklee College of Music’s Performance Center in Boston, in front of a sold-out crowd. Audio from the performance can now be streamed at NPRMusic.org. Continue reading →

Pianist, composer, educator and winner of the Latin Jazz USA Outstanding Achievement Award for 2003, Artuto was born in Mexico and grew up in New York City. In 2002, Mr. O’Farrill created the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for Jazz at Lincoln Center due in part to a large and very demanding body of substantial music in the genre of Latin and Afro Cuban Jazz that deserves to be much more widely appreciated and experienced by the general jazz audience. His debut album with the Orchestra “Una Noche Inolvidable” earned a GRAMMY award nomination in 2006. —BIO (Arturo O’Farrill)

Hammerax has entered into an agreement where drumming icon Omar Hakim will endorse and play Hammerax Hybrid bronze hanging sculptural percussion instruments.

Omar Hakim

In addition to it’s cymbal division, Hammerax has a highly creative department where they craft US made hanging bronze instruments which are suspended from extremely strong and light cord. These instruments are connected to Maple frames and mounted on cymbal boom stands in a manner like chimes. The unique patented shapes, alloys and metallurgical techniques give these instruments a wildly beautiful sound. They are very durable and playable with drumsticks. “It will be a pleasure to be working with Omar in our Hybrid efforts. He brings a wealth of experience that few drummers in history can claim” said Hammerax President, John Stannard. Omar has already begun playing Boomywang, Culebra, Glass, Meanie, Lash, and other Hammerax hybrids.

Omar Hakim’s resume reads as a who’s who of musicians. He is one on the most sought after drummers in history. He has played with Miles Davis ,Weather Report , Carly Simon, Sting, Dire Straits, NBC’s Night Music, Anita Baker, Mariah Carey, Madonna, David Bowie, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Marcus Miller, Lee Ritenour and many more. Omar Joins a growing list of Hammerax hybrid endorsers including Dame Evelyn Glennie, Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson, Emil Richards, Walfredo Reyes Jr, Will Callhoun, Marco Giovino, Danny Gottlieb, and others.

Bruce Jones, Thedia Jones Smith and the Jones Family ask that donations be made to the Jazz Foundation of America to help cover the costs of this memorial. Please make your donation online and specify in memory of Hank Jones. Thank you so much. Continue reading →

TO LAUNCH NEW SHOW ON SIRIUS XM REAL JAZZ CHANNEL APRIL 3 THE LOWDOWN: CONVERSATIONS WITH CHRISTIAN

SIRIUS XM’s Real Jazz channel, SIRIUS channel 72 and XM channel 70, will launch a new show hosted by Grammy® Award-winning bassist-composer and Mack Avenue recording artist Christian McBride. The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian, which will premiere on Saturday, April 3 at 1 pm ET as part of SIRIUS XM’s celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, will be recorded in front of a live audience at various jazz clubs across the country and will feature onstage dialogues and musical duets between McBride and his special guest artists. The first episode, featuring legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea, was recorded at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.

Conversations with CHRISTIAN

About The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian, McBride states: “I’m not only excited about being able to expose other facets of my personality, but also exposing different facets of the many diverse guests who will appear on the SIRIUS XM show. Imagine hearing Chick Corea talk about football and to hear Angelique Kidjo imitating a New York cab driver. I mean, this shows special – if I must say so myself.”

Other guests will include Roy Hargrove, Lou Donaldson, Bill Charlap and Angelique Kidjo. The concept for the program derived from a digital downloads duets and conversations project that McBride released on Mack Avenue (available on iTunes) called “Conversations With Christian.” The Lowdown: Conversations with Christian will air every Saturday at 1 pm ET on SIRIUS XM’s Real Jazz.

Check out the phenomenal brother’s Whalum [Kirk & Kevin] performing “Running Away” from The Gospel According to Jazz Ch. 3. The show will be airing nationally on Sunday – April 4th, 2010 at 9pm ET. Visit: http://www.trumpetfoundation.org/ for market listings.